Smiling Jizo In Daien-Ji

The statues were smiling happily

Shot at Daien-Ji, a Buddhist temple in Meguro, Tokyo.

Daien-Ji was on the halfway up a steep hill called 'GYONIN-ZAKA'. GYONIN means a position of Buddhist monks in medieval times. Once the Mt.Fuji was seen from the slope. Yet it was surrounded by the tall buildings and I couldn't find the figure.

In a corner of the precinct, I found some statues of Jizo standing. While they stood together, they were looking upward faintly and constantly smiling. All of them had full-fleshed earlobes. It was believed that the full-fleshed earlobe was a sign of the enrichment. The statues could have money in plenty.